Liberalism and the end of climate change

We are probably all familiar with the saying that it is easier to imagine the end of the world than it is to imagine the end of capitalism. But the coordinator class of liberal democracies is unable to imagine either the end of the world, or the end of capitalism. Instead, liberalism's defenders promote a vision of the net zero 2050 world which is the same as today, just minus the greenhouse gas emissions, and untouched by the impacts of climate change. 

Dr. Christopher Shaw will explain how the liberal symbolism embedded in the net-zero discourse functions as an act of control, effectively closing off the possibility of imagining a different political future for humanity. This impasse poses serious threats to democracy, the climate justice agenda, and human well-being. Dr. Shaw will explore the potential contributions of a class-conscious transformative adaptation agenda to address the climate failings of liberal democracy.

Speaker

Until September 2023, Dr. Christopher Shaw was Head of Research at Climate Outreach. Prior to that Dr. Shaw was a Knowledge Exchange Research Fellow at the Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford. He now works as a freelance climate communication consultant, supporting governments and scientists to build effective climate engagement strategies. He is a Director of DeSmog UK, and a Research Associate in the School of Global Studies at the University of Sussex. His first book, The Two Degrees Dangerous Limit for Climate Change: Public Understanding and Decision Making (2015) was shortlisted for the Philip Abrams Memorial Prize. His most recent book, Liberalism and the Challenge of Climate Change, was published by Routledge in September 2023.